Press Release

Albert Pujols to accept Players Choice Awards for 2008 Player of the Year & NL Outstanding Player

In Pujols honor, the Players Trust will contribute $70,000 to the charity of his choice

MLBPA Press Release

NEW YORK -- In a pre-game ceremony this evening, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman, Albert Pujols, will receive two prestigious Players Choice Awards as the 2008 Player of the Year and NL Outstanding Player. Selected in a secret ballot of Major League players, Albert will receive the Players Choice Awards in recognition of his inspiring and record-setting 2008 season.

Last season, Albert finished second in the NL batting race with a .357 average while hitting 37 home runs and driving in 116 runs. He also became the only Major League player to hit at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs in each of his first eight seasons. Albert has now won a total of six Players Choice Awards since entering the league in 2001, placing him third all-time.

Alberts teammate, Kyle McClellan, will represent his Major League peers in presenting him with the awards.

In Alberts honor, the Major League Baseball Players Trust will award a $70,000 grant to the charity of his choice. 2008 Players Choice Award winners in all categories will designate charities to receive grants totaling $260,000 from the Players Trust. Since 1992, the Players Trust has recognized the outstanding on-field and off-field performances of Players Choice Awards winners by contributing over $3.5 million to charities around the world.